Clinique Pep-Start Daily Uv Protector Spf 50
83/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector SPF 50 is a pure mineral sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced, lightweight finish with low white cast and does not commonly sting, making it sensitive-skin friendly. With good protection and a strong score of 83.4/100, it is one of the better mineral daily options in this group.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
75
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
π»
White cast
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Zinc Oxide, 4% declared
- β18 Titanium Dioxide, 6.3% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β8 Pure mineral formula (10.3% total declared)
- +21 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
- +2.1 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +1.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
72
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 4% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 6.3% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- β2 Laureth-4 at #16, comedogenic oil/butter
π
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Laureth-4)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #29, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
π§
Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 2 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Isononyl Isononanoate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate)
- β 6 1 emollient lipids (C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 4 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (29)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 18 6.3% declared
- β 10 6.3% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
-
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 6 4% declared
- β 8 4% declared
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
-
3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 6 β dewy emollient lipid
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
15 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 1 sebum-absorbing powder
-
16 Laureth-4
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 2 comedogenic oil/butter
- β 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
29 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector leave a white cast?
White cast is low. Even though it is pure mineral with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, it has a balanced, lightweight finish that blends in well.
Is the Clinique Pep-Start Daily Uv Protector Spf 50 mineral or chemical?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen, using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Is Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector SPF 50 good?
Yes. It scores 83.4/100 with good protection, does not commonly sting, and is sensitive-skin friendly, making it one of the better mineral daily picks here.